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About this project

"The Caramel Apple Election" is guide for teachers, youth and community leaders, home schoolers and others to hold a fun activity that teaches elementary kids all about voting in the USA! Educators and booksellers and others have told us that there is lots of curriculum and material for the older kids, but a real need for something like this at the elementary level!

A civic lesson about voting is incorporated in this FUN ACTIVITY for KIDS.

Everything needed to stage a Caramel Apple Election is in the book, full color, fully illustrated. The book even provides master templates so teachers can copy their own "I Voted" labels and "Ballots."

The book tells a charming story kids will love [we know, we tested it!] that pits "red apples" against "green apples" in a "fun" contest to see which apple makes the best caramel apple. Author Vanessa Purdom had this idea when she was volunteering at her kids' school in the Fall of 2010.

"I was pondering how to bring in a healthy treat and at the same time incorporate it into a fun activity. The teacher was super supportive and we actually held an apple election in my daughter's classroom. We did graphs, cast ballots, and counted the votes after I gave a brief lecture. After the whole experience, I realized that it would have been much cooler to have a story to go along with our activities."

The kids learn all about voting and everyone involved has a great time. Kids will remember what they learned and the positive experience of voting will translate into a larger population of voters when these children reach the age of majority.

Author Vanessa Purdom's goal (and the goal of our PROJECT) is to have "as many Caramel Apple Elections" as possible staged across the USA in the Fall of 2012.

"I was fascinated when she called," said Janet Verdeguer of Granny Apple Publishing. "Most of these mock elections are held in schools for the older kids and using the real candidates. Vanessa had come up with a way to teach the younger kids but take out any reference to political parties or negativity. I thought she had a winner." The book was just published in June, officially launched on the FOURTH OF JULY and is currently on sale at Amazon.com and through the publisher's shopping cart.

Front and Back Cover

We have spoken with people in State Departments in Arkansas, West Virginia, Alaska, Indiana, Utah, Nebraska, Montana, Mississippi and more. We have reached out to teachers, principals, curriculum directors, Board of Election officials at the local, state and national level. We have contacted Head Start, Pace Community Action, Boys and Girls Club, and others ...

Since this neat civic lesson for kids will also need a lot of apples, we have reached out to the U.S Apple Association in Virginia, Orange Pippen [the comprehensive resource for apples & orchards] ... and more. Everyone wants to help.

Response has been overwhelmingly positive! The project is already a success. However, we need funding RIGHT NOW to expedite and put into motion rapid, widespread marketing in order to quickly get information about the PROJECT in the hands of people who can make these elections happen across the USA this fall!

Time is of the essence because most teachers buy materials for their fall classrooms in August.

# Here's what we will do with our KickStarter MARKETING BUDGET

*print more copies of the book all at once [instead of costly print on demand] to take advantage of lower rates and pass this savings along to the teachers and others who want a copy for every student in their classroom

*purchase distribution for national press releases to expand our outreach

*attend as many pertinent events as possible (trade shows, business meetings, conventions, etc.) where teachers learn about and buy materials for their fall classrooms

*set up a program of State Campaign Chairpersons to help us penetrate every state, and promote this program of "creating jobs" through press releases and publicity

*hold caramel apple recipe contests to get more publicity for the event ... the main one a contest between Michele Obama and Ann Romney

*set up a program of branded products to expand the reach

*publicize the Anna & Savanna GIve Back fund to help raise funds so that underpriviledged kids have the opportunity to have a Caramel Apple Election

* and much more!

#Who We Are

Vanessa A. Purdom lives in rural Indiana. She is happily married and mother of two, Anna and Savanna, and it was while volunteering at their school that she came up with this sweet idea - fun and educational - to teach young elementary age kids all about voting! Vanessa is also an attorney.

Janet Verdeguer, Granny Apple Publishing, LLC. She is a happily married micro-publisher who lives on the West Coast of Florida. After a career in marketing, she moved to Sarasota to care for her 95-year-old Mom over the last three years. During this time she learned about Print on Demand publishing and has published seven books, including "The Caramel Apple Election" under the Granny Apple Publishing imprint.

# Join In

We need your help to spread the word about The Caramel Apple Election in time for these sweet events to happen across the country this Fall. Time is of the essence. We have the book, but not the means to promote it and gain the national attention it deserves. Do you believe in America? Do you believe in our kids? Help us teach them all about voting! No Politics! No Agenda! Just some good, sweet, educational fun!

We truly appreciate any donation in any amount to help us turn this dream into reality. Thank you!

There are many materials and resources for middle and high school students, but there is a lack of fun, colorful, interactive stories that teach younger kids about voting. This book definitely fills a void.

Hands-on experience, actually tasting the different apples, helping count the votes or taking any part in The Caramel Apple Election will help kids remember what they learned. This will translate into a larger population of voters when these children reach the age of majority.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

We are flabbergasted and honored! For this large donation to The Caramel Election we give you all of above plus an invitation to join our Board of Directors. You will help us plan and improve the program ! We can't wait to hear your ideas.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

OMG can we hug you now! For this magnanimous donation you get all above PLUS an invitation to join Vannessa and/or Janet at our booth at one of the shows we will be attending during August 2012! We can't obviously pay your travel and expenses but we will invite you to a celebratory dinner where we can certainly share more sweet ideas about "The Caramel Apple Election."